Contents reproduction system, reproduction device and contents reproduction method

Abstract

A recorder which reproduces contents and a remote controller which remotely operates the recorder are provided. The remote controller, which has a data base which stores context information indicating up to which position in the contents its reproduction has been made, when the recorder reproduces the contents by remote operation, transmits information for rewriting the context information in the data base based on the position in the contents obtained at the time when the reproduction ends to the remote controller by mail.

1 . A contents reproduction system, comprising: 
 a reproduction device which reproduces contents,    a remote control device which remotely operates said reproduction device, and    a context information storage device which stores context information related to reproduction of said contents, wherein    said reproduction device, when reproducing said contents by remote operation, rewrites the context information in said context information storage device based on a state of the contents in question as of after reproduction.    
   
   
       2 . The contents reproduction system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein 
 said reproduction device includes    first communication unit, and    a first control unit which transmits updated contents based on a state of said contents as of after reproduction from said first communication unit to said remote control device, and    said remote control device includes    second communication unit which receives the updated contents transmitted from said reproduction device, and    a second control unit which updates the context information in said context information storage device based on the updated contents received by said second communication unit.    
   
   
       3 . The contents reproduction system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein 
 said reproduction device includes    first communication unit, and    a first control unit which transmits updated contents based on a state of said contents as of after reproduction from said first communication unit to said remote control device, and    said remote control device includes    second communication unit which receives the updated contents transmitted from said reproduction device, and    a second control unit which updates the context information in said context information storage device based on the updated contents received by said second communication unit,    said first communication unit transmits a mail containing said updated contents and said second communication unit receives said mail.    
   
   
       4 . The contents reproduction system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein 
 said reproduction device includes:    first communication unit, and    a first control unit which transmits updated contents based on a state of said contents as of after reproduction from said first communication unit to said remote control device, and    said remote control device includes:    second communication unit which receives the updated contents transmitted from said reproduction device, and    a second control unit which updates the context information in said context information storage device based on the updated contents received by said second communication unit,    said first and second communication unit are a radio communication unit.    
   
   
       5 . The contents reproduction system as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising 
 a recording medium attachable to each of said reproduction device and said remote control device, wherein    said reproduction device records updated contents based on a state of said contents as of after reproduction on said recording medium, and    when said recording medium in which said updated contents are recorded is attached, said remote control device reads said updated contents from the attached recording medium to update the context information in said context information storage device based on the read updated contents.    
   
   
       6 . The contents reproduction system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein 
 said context information storage device and said reproduction device are connected to be communicable with each other through a network and said reproduction device directly updates the context information in said context information storage device based on a state of said contents as of after reproduction.    
   
   
       7 . The contents reproduction system as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising 
 other remote control device which remotely operates said reproduction device, wherein    with said context information being stored for each said remote control device, said context information storage device, when said reproduction device reproduces said contents by remote operation of any of the remote control devices, rewrites context information of the relevant remote control device in said context information storage device based on a state of the contents in question as of after reproduction.    
   
   
       8 . The contents reproduction system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein 
 said context information storage device includes a first data base where a contents ID which specifies said contents and said context information are stored to be correlated with each other, the first data base being provided in said remote control device.    
   
   
       9 . The contents reproduction system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein 
 said context information storage device includes a first data base where a contents ID which specifies said contents and said context information are stored to be correlated with each other, the first data base being provided in said remote control device,    said context information storage device further includes:    a second data base where a device ID which specifies said remote control device, said contents ID and context information are stored to be correlated with each other, and    a third data base where a mail address set in advance to said remote control device and context information latest updating time and date equivalent to time and date when said context information is rewritten last are stored to be correlated with said device ID,    said second and third data bases being provided in said reproduction device,    said reproduction device rewrites the context information in said second data base based on a state of said contents as of after reproduction, as well as updating the context information latest updating time and date in said third data base to transmit the rewritten contents of the context information in question to the mail address in said third data base, and    said remote control device updates the context information in said first data base based on contents of a mail received from said reproduction device.    
   
   
       10 . The contents reproduction system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein 
 said context information storage device includes a first data base where a contents ID which specifies said contents and said context information are stored to be correlated with each other, the first data base being provided in said remote control device,    said context information storage device further includes:    a second data base where a device ID which specifies said remote control device, said contents ID and context information are stored to be correlated with each other, and    a third data base where a mail address set in advance to said remote control device and context information latest updating time and date equivalent to time and date when said context information is rewritten last are stored to be correlated with said device ID,    said second and third data bases being provided in said reproduction device,    said reproduction device rewrites the context information in said second data base based on a state of said contents as of after reproduction, as well as updating the context information latest updating time and date in said third data base to transmit the rewritten contents of the context information in question to the mail address in said third data base,    said remote control device updates the context information in said first data base based on contents of a mail received from said reproduction device,    said reproduction device further includes a display unit,    said remote control device transmits time and date when the context information in said first data base is updated last to said reproduction device, and    said reproduction device checks whether the time and date received from said remote control device coincides with the context information latest updating time and date in said third data base and when the times and dates fail to coincide with each other, causes said display unit to make a display urging update of the context information in said second data base.    
   
   
       11 . The contents reproduction system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein 
 said context information storage device includes a first data base where a contents ID which specifies said contents and said context information are stored to be correlated with each other, the first data base being provided in said remote control device,    said context information storage device further includes:    a second data base where a device ID which specifies said remote control device, said contents ID and context information are stored to be correlated with each other, and    a third data base where a mail address set in advance to said remote control device and context information latest updating time and date equivalent to time and date when said context information is rewritten last are stored to be correlated with said device ID,    said second and third data bases being provided in said reproduction device,    said reproduction device rewrites the context information in said second data base based on a state of said contents as of after reproduction, as well as updating the context information latest updating time and date in said third data base to transmit the rewritten contents of the context information in question to the mail address in said third data base,    said remote control device updates the context information in said first data base based on contents of a mail received from said reproduction device,    said reproduction device further includes a display unit,    said remote control device transmits time and date when the context information in said first data base is updated last to said reproduction device,    said reproduction device checks whether the time and date received form said remote control device coincides with the context information latest updating time and date in said third data base and when the times and dates fail to coincide with each other, causes said display unit to make a display urging update of the context information in said second data base,    said remote control device includes an updating button and when a user presses said updating button according to said display urging update, transmits the context information in said first data base to said reproduction device, and    said reproduction device updates the context information in said second data base based on the context information received from said remote control device.    
   
   
       12 . The contents reproduction system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein 
 said context information storage device includes a first data base where a contents ID which specifies said contents and said context information are stored to be correlated with each other, the first data base being provided in said remote control device,    said context information storage device further includes:    a second data base where a device ID which specifies said remote control device, said contents ID and context information are stored to be correlated with each other, and    a third data base where a mail address set in advance to said remote control device and context information latest updating time and date equivalent to time and date when said context information is rewritten last are stored to be correlated with said device ID,    said second and third data bases being provided in said reproduction device,    said reproduction device rewrites the context information in said second data base based on a state of said contents as of after reproduction, as well as updating the context information latest updating time and date in said third data base to transmit the rewritten contents of the context information in question to the mail address in said third data base,    said remote control device updates the context information in said first data base based on contents of a mail received from said reproduction device, and    said reproduction device is capable of reproducing at least one other contents than said contents,    said first and second data bases each storing said contents ID and said context information with respect to each said contents.    
   
   
       13 . The contents reproduction system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein 
 said context information storage device includes a first data base where a contents ID which specifies said contents and said context information are stored to be correlated with each other, the first data base being provided in said remote control device,    said context information storage device further includes:    a second data base where a device ID which specifies said remote control device, said contents ID and context information are stored to be correlated with each other, and    a third data base where a mail address set in advance to said remote control device and context information latest updating time and date equivalent to time and date when said context information is rewritten last are stored to be correlated with said device ID,    said second and third data bases being provided in said reproduction device,    said reproduction device rewrites the context information in said second data base based on a state of said contents as of after reproduction, as well as updating the context information latest updating time and date in said third data base to transmit the rewritten contents of the context information in question to the mail address in said third data base, and    said remote control device updates the context information in said first data base based on contents of a mail received from said reproduction device, and which further comprises other remote control device which remotely operates said reproduction device, wherein    said second data base stores said contents ID and said context information with respect to each said remote control device, and    said third data base stores said mail address and said context information latest updating time and date with respect to each said remote control device.    
   
   
       14 . The contents reproduction system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein 
 said context information storage device includes a first data base where a contents ID which specifies said contents and said context information are stored to be correlated with each other, the first data base being provided in said remote control device,    said context information storage device further includes:    a second data base where a device ID which specifies said remote control device, said contents ID and context information are stored to be correlated with each other, and    a third data base where a mail address set in advance to said remote control device and context information latest updating time and date equivalent to time and date when said context information is rewritten last are stored to be correlated with said device ID,    said second and third data bases being provided in said reproduction device,    said reproduction device rewrites the context information in said second data base based on a state of said contents as of after reproduction, as well as updating the context information latest updating time and date in said third data base to transmit the rewritten contents of the context information in question to the mail address in said third data base,    said remote control device updates the context information in said first data base based on contents of a mail received from said reproduction device, and    said reproduction device is capable of reproducing at least one other contents than said contents,    said first and second data bases each storing said contents ID and said context information with respect to each said contents, and which further comprises other remote control device which remotely operates said reproduction device, wherein    said second data base stores said contents ID and said context information with respect to each said remote control device, and    said third data base stores said mail address and said context information latest updating time and date with respect to each said remote control device.    
   
   
       15 . The contents reproduction system as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising 
 a recording medium attachable to each of said reproduction device and said remote control device, wherein    said reproduction device further includes recording unit which records said contents on said recording medium, and    said remote control device further includes reproduction unit which reproduces contents recorded in said recording medium and when the reproduction unit reproduces contents recorded in said recording medium, rewrites the context information in said context information storage device based on a state of the contents in question as of after reproduction.    
   
   
       16 . The contents reproduction system as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising 
 a recording medium attachable to each of said reproduction device and said remote control device, wherein    said reproduction device further includes recording unit which records said contents on said recording medium,    said remote control device further includes reproduction unit which reproduces contents recorded in said recording medium and when the reproduction unit reproduces contents recorded in said recording medium, rewrites the context information in said context information storage device based on a state of the contents in question as of after reproduction,    said context information storage device includes a data base where a contents ID which specifies said contents and said context information are stored to be correlated with each other,    said data base being provided in said remote control device, and wherein    said remote control device rewrites the context information in said data base based on a state of contents reproduced by said reproduction unit.    
   
   
       17 . The contents reproduction system as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising 
 a recording medium attachable to each of said reproduction device and said remote control device, wherein    said reproduction device further includes recording unit which records said contents on said recording medium,    said remote control device further includes reproduction unit which reproduces contents recorded in said recording medium and when the reproduction unit reproduces contents recorded in said recording medium, rewrites the context information in said context information storage device based on a state of the contents in question as of after reproduction,    said context information storage device includes a data base where a contents ID which specifies said contents and said context information are stored to be correlated with each other,    said data base being provided in said remote control device, and wherein    said remote control device here rewrites the context information in said data base based on a state of contents reproduced by said reproduction unit,    said reproduction device is capable of reproducing at least one other contents than said contents,    said data base storing said contents ID and said context information with respect to each said contents, and    said recording unit recording contents selected from among said reproducible contents on said recording medium, and    said remote control device rewrites context information of relevant contents in said data base based on a state of contents reproduced by said reproduction unit.    
   
   
       18 . A contents reproduction method executed in a system having a reproduction device which reproduces contents, a remote control device which remotely operates said reproduction device, and a context information storage device which stores context information related to reproduction of said contents, comprising the step of 
 said reproduction device, after reproducing said contents by remote operation, rewriting the context information in said context information storage device based on a state of the contents in question as of after reproduction.    
   
   
       19 . The contents reproduction method as set forth in  claim 18 , comprising: 
 a step of said reproduction device of transmitting updated contents based on a state of said contents as of after reproduction to said remote control device, and    a step of said remote control device of updating the context information in said context information storage device based on the updated contents received from said reproduction device.    
   
   
       20 . The contents reproduction method as set forth in  claim 18 , wherein 
 transmission of said updated contents from said reproduction device to said remote control device is conducted by mail.    
   
   
       21 . The contents reproduction method as set forth in  claim 18 , wherein 
 transmission of said updated contents from said reproduction device to said remote control device is conducted by radio communication.    
   
   
       22 . The contents reproduction method as set forth in  claim 18 , comprising: 
 a step of said reproduction device of recording updated contents based on a state of said contents as of after reproduction on a recording medium attached, and    a step of said remote control device, when the recording medium in which said updated contents are recorded is attached, of reading said updated contents from the attached recording medium to update the context information in said context information storage device based on the read updated contents.    
   
   
       23 . The contents reproduction method as set forth in  claim 18 , wherein 
 said context information storage device and said reproduction device are connected to be communicable with each other through a network and said reproduction device directly updates the context information in said context information storage device based on a state of said contents as of after reproduction.    
   
   
       24 . The contents reproduction method as set forth in  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 a step of said context information storage device of storing said context information related to other remote control device which remotely operates said reproduction device than said remote control device, and    a step of said reproduction device, when reproducing said contents by remote operation of any of the remote control devices, of rewriting context information of the relevant remote control device in said context information storage device based on a state of the contents in question as of after reproduction.    
   
   
       25 . The contents reproduction method as set forth in  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 with a first data base as said context information storage device provided in said remote control device, a step of the first data base of storing a contents ID which specifies said contents and said context information so as to be correlated with each other.    
   
   
       26 . The contents reproduction method as set forth in  claim 18 , comprising: 
 with a first data base as said context information storage device provided in said remote control device, a step of the first data base of storing a contents ID which specifies said contents and said context information so as to be correlated with each other,    with second and third data bases as said context information storage device provided in said reproduction device, a step of said second data base of storing a device ID which specifies said remote control device, said contents ID and context information so as to be correlated with each other, and a step of said third data base of storing a mail address set in advance to said remote control device and context information latest updating time and date equivalent to time and date when said context information is rewritten last so as to be correlated with said device ID,    a step of said reproduction device of rewriting the context information in said second data base based on a state of said contents as of after reproduction, as well as updating the context information latest updating time and date in said third data base to transmit the rewritten contents of the context information in question to the mail address in said third data base, and    a step of said remote control device of updating the context information in said first data base based on contents of a mail received from said reproduction device.    
   
   
       27 . The contents reproduction method as set forth in  claim 18 , comprising: 
 with a first data base as said context information storage device provided in said remote control device, a step of the first data base of storing a contents ID which specifies said contents and said context information so as to be correlated with each other,    with second and third data bases as said context information storage device provided in said reproduction device, a step of said second data base of storing a device ID which specifies said remote control device, said contents ID and context information so as to be correlated with each other, and a step of said third data base of storing a mail address set in advance to said remote control device and context information latest updating time and date equivalent to time and date when said context information is rewritten last so as to be correlated with said device ID,    a step of said reproduction device of rewriting the context information in said second data base based on a state of said contents as of after reproduction, as well as updating the context information latest updating time and date in said third data base to transmit the rewritten contents of the context information in question to the mail address in said third data base,    a step of said remote control device of updating the context information in said first data base based on contents of a mail received from said reproduction device,    a step of said remote control device of transmitting time and date when the context information in said first data base is updated last to said reproduction device, and    a step of said reproduction device of checking whether the time and date received from said remote control device coincides with the context information latest updating time and date in said third data base and when the times and dates fail to coincide with each other, making a display urging update of the context information in said second data base.    
   
   
       28 . The contents reproduction method as set forth in  claim 18 , comprising: 
 with a first data base as said context information storage device provided in said remote control device, a step of the first data base of storing a contents ID which specifies said contents and said context information so as to be correlated with each other,    with second and third data bases as said context information storage device provided in said reproduction device, a step of said second data base of storing a device ID which specifies said remote control device, said contents ID and context information so as to be correlated with each other, and a step of said third data base of storing a mail address set in advance to said remote control device and context information latest updating time and date equivalent to time and date when said context information is rewritten last so as to be correlated with said device ID,    a step of said reproduction device of rewriting the context information in said second data base based on a state of said contents as of after reproduction, as well as updating the context information latest updating time and date in said third data base to transmit the rewritten contents of the context information in question to the mail address in said third data base,    a step of said remote control device of updating the context information in said first data base based on contents of a mail received from said reproduction device,    a step of said remote control device of transmitting time and date when the context information in said first data base is updated last to said reproduction device,    a step of said reproduction device of checking whether the time and date received from said remote control device coincides with the context information latest updating time and date in said third data base and when the times and dates fail to coincide with each other, making a display urging update of the context information in said second data base,    a step of said remote control device of, when a user conducts predetermined input operation according to said display urging update, transmitting the context information in said first data base to said reproduction device, and    a step of said reproduction device of updating the context information in said second data base based on the context information received from said remote control device.    
   
   
       29 . The contents reproduction method as set forth in  claim 18 , comprising: 
 with a first data base as said context information storage device provided in said remote control device, a step of the first data base of storing a contents ID which specifies said contents and said context information so as to be correlated with each other,    with second and third data bases as said context information storage device provided in said reproduction device, a step of said second data base of storing a device ID which specifies said remote control device, said contents ID and context information so as to be correlated with each other, and a step of said third data base of storing a mail address set in advance to said remote control device and context information latest updating time and date equivalent to time and date when said context information is rewritten last so as to be correlated with said device ID,    a step of said reproduction device of rewriting the context information in said second data base based on a state of said contents as of after reproduction, as well as updating the context information latest updating time and date in said third data base to transmit the rewritten contents of the context information in question to the mail address in said third data base,    a step of said remote control device of updating the context information in said first data base based on contents of a mail received from said reproduction device, and    a step of each of said first and second data bases of storing said contents ID related to at least one other contents than said contents and said context information.    
   
   
       30 . The contents reproduction method as set forth in  claim 18 , comprising: 
 with a first data base as said context information storage device provided in said remote control device, a step of the first data base of storing a contents ID which specifies said contents and said context information so as to be correlated with each other,    with second and third data bases as said context information storage device provided in said reproduction device, a step of said second data base of storing a device ID which specifies said remote control device, said contents ID and context information so as to be correlated with each other, and a step of said third data base of storing a mail address set in advance to said remote control device and context information latest updating time and date equivalent to time and date when said context information is rewritten last so as to be correlated with said device ID,    a step of said reproduction device of rewriting the context information in said second data base based on a state of said contents as of after reproduction, as well as updating the context information latest updating time and date in said third data base to transmit the rewritten contents of the context information in question to the mail address in said third data base,    a step of said remote control device of updating the context information in said first data base based on contents of a mail received from said reproduction device,    a step of said second data base of storing said contents ID related to other remote control device which remotely operates said reproduction device than said remote control device and said context information, and    a step of said third data base of storing said mail address and said context information latest update time and date with respect to each said remote control device.    
   
   
       31 . The contents reproduction method as set forth in  claim 18 , comprising: 
 with a first data base as said context information storage device provided in said remote control device, a step of the first data base of storing a contents ID which specifies said contents and said context information so as to be correlated with each other,    with second and third data bases as said context information storage device provided in said reproduction device, a step of said second data base of storing a device ID which specifies said remote control device, said contents ID and context information so as to be correlated with each other, and a step of said third data base of storing a mail address set in advance to said remote control device and context information latest updating time and date equivalent to time and date when said context information is rewritten last so as to be correlated with said device ID,    a step of said reproduction device of rewriting the context information in said second data base based on a state of said contents as of after reproduction, as well as updating the context information latest updating time and date in said third data base to transmit the rewritten contents of the context information in question to the mail address in said third data base,    a step of said remote control device of updating the context information in said first data base based on contents of a mail received from said reproduction device,    a step of each of said first and second data bases of storing said contents ID related to at least one other contents than said contents and said context information,    a step of said second data base of storing said contents ID related to other remote control device which remotely operates said reproduction device than said remote control device and said context information, and    a step of said third data base of storing said mail address and said context information latest update time and date with respect to each said remote control device.    
   
   
       32 . The contents reproduction method as set forth in  claim 18 , comprising: 
 a step of said reproduction device of recording said contents on a recording medium attached, and    a step of said remote control device, when said recording medium is attached, of reproducing the contents recorded in the recording medium to rewrite the context information in said context information storage device based on a state of the contents in question as of after reproduction.    
   
   
       33 . The contents reproduction method as set forth in  claim 18 , comprising: 
 a step of said reproduction device of recording said contents on a recording medium attached,    a step of said remote control device, when said recording medium is attached, of reproducing the contents recorded in the recording medium to rewrite the context information in said context information storage device based on a state of the contents in question as of after reproduction,    with a data base as said context information storage device disposed in said remote control device, a step of the data base of storing a contents ID which specifies said contents and said context information so as to be correlated with each other, and    a step of said remote control device of rewriting the context information in said data base based on a state of the contents recorded on said recording medium as of after reproduction.    
   
   
       34 . The contents reproduction method as set forth in  claim 18 , comprising: 
 a step of said reproduction device of recording said contents on a recording medium attached,    a step of said remote control device, when said recording medium is attached, of reproducing the contents recorded in the recording medium to rewrite the context information in said context information storage device based on a state of the contents in question as of after reproduction,    with a data base as said context information storage device disposed in said remote control device, a step of the data base of storing a contents ID which specifies said contents and said context information so as to be correlated with each other,    a step of said remote control device of rewriting the context information in said data base based on a state of the contents recorded on said recording medium as of after reproduction,    a step of said data base of storing said contents ID related to at least one other contents than said contents and said context information,    a step of said reproduction device of recording contents selected from among said contents on said recording medium, and    a step of said remote control device of rewriting context information of relevant contents in said data base based on a state of the contents recorded on said recording medium as of after reproduction.    
   
   
       35 . A reproduction device which reproduces contents, which 
 is connected to a context information storage device which stores context information related to reproduction of said contents, and    when reproducing said contents by remote operation of a remote control device, rewrites the context information in said context information storage device based on a state of the contents in question as of after reproduction.    
   
   
       36 . The reproduction device as set forth in  claim 35 , comprising: 
 first communication unit, and    a first control unit which causes transmission of updated contents based on a state of said contents as of after reproduction from said first communication unit to said remote control device, wherein    said remote control device includes:    second communication unit which receives the updated contents transmitted from said reproduction device, and    a second control unit which updates the context information in said context information storage device based on the updated contents received by said second communication unit.    
   
   
       37 . The reproduction device as set forth in  claim 35 , comprising: 
 first communication unit, and    a first control unit which causes transmission of updated contents based on a state of said contents as of after reproduction from said first communication unit to said remote control device, wherein    said remote control device includes:    second communication unit which receives the updated contents transmitted from said reproduction device, and    a second control unit which updates the context information in said context information storage device based on the updated contents received by said second communication unit,    said first communication unit transmits a mail containing said updated contents and said second communication unit receives said mail.    
   
   
       38 . The reproduction device as set forth in  claim 35 , comprising: 
 first communication unit, and    a first control unit which causes transmission of updated contents based on a state of said contents as of after reproduction from said first communication unit to said remote control device, wherein    said remote control device includes:    second communication unit which receives the updated contents transmitted from said reproduction device, and    a second control unit which updates the context information in said context information storage device based on the updated contents received by said second communication unit,    said first and second communication unit are a radio communication unit.